“This will expand our footprint in the region as well as nationally to engage in with other businesses,” said Matt Bennett, Cleary University senior vice president of institutional advancement, who also mentioned the new facility would be Cleary’s third satellite campus. “We have our main campus in Livingston County, a satellite campus in Ann Arbor at Washtenaw Community College, Mott Community College in Flint, and now in Detroit.”

In addition to the certification programs, the Detroit satellite campus will offer “stackable credentials,” which will allow students to build upon each class and credit to work toward a degree program. Degree programs offered at the site include business management; accounting and finance; marketing, health care management; and event, sport and promotion management.

“Detroit is moving forward, but Detroiters are standing still. Education is the only way out of poverty. This new campus is about transforming lives,” said the Rev. Dr. Jim Holley of Little Rock Baptist Church. “As economic development thrives in downtown and Midtown, North End is the next link in the chain along the Woodward corridor, connecting to progress in the city of Detroit,” he added.

Additional educational institutions have been invited to participate to help grow the urban campus and add to the program and class offerings, according to a Cleary University news release. In the coming weeks, enrollment officers will be on site and remain at the Considine Little Rock Family Center to work with prospective students to navigate the application and financial-aid processes.

An online application process will be available as well.

“If Detroit wants to take full advantage of the city’s resurgence, we have to train everyone. We cannot afford to waste anyone’s talent,” said Jayson Boyers, Cleary University president and CEO. “This partnership will help create opportunity for students who have potential but may have lost their way.”